Nijo Castle map
42 places in and around the castle on one map, then floor plans of both palaces with the route you walk, room by room.
There is one way in: Higashi Ote-mon, the East Gate. From there it is about 850 m and 15 to 20 minutes on foot to Honmaru Palace at the far end.
Castle grounds
Numbers 1 to 9 are the same as on the official paper leaflet. Place names follow the official English guide map and leaflet.
All places
Palaces
Gates and turrets
Gardens
Other sights
Tickets, lockers, restrooms
Station, buses, taxi
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Drawn for nijocastletoday.com by Kyoya Fujioka, 2026. Not to be reused without permission. OUTER MOAT OUTER MOAT INNER MOAT INNER MOAT Seiryu-en Garden Honmaru Garden Ninomaru Garden Plum tree grove Cherry tree grove Green Garden Oshikoji-dori HONMARU PALACE NINOMARU PALACE Horikawa-dori N WC WC WC WC Higashi Ote-mon (East Gate) 1 Tonan Sumi-yagura (Southeast Watchtower) 2 Kara-mon Gate 3 Ninomaru Palace (Ninomaru-goten) 4 Ninomaru Garden 5 Honmaru Palace (Honmaru-goten) 6 Base of the Keep Tower 7 Seiryu-en Garden 8 Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery 9 Ticket Counter 10 General Information Center 11 Rest Area 12 Ban-sho (Guard House) 13 Kurumayose (Ninomaru Palace entrance) 14 Daidokoro and Okiyodokoro (kitchens) 15 Dozo (storehouse) 16 Honmaru Yagura-mon Gate and East Bridge 17 Honmaru West Bridge 18 Kita Ote-mon Gate (north gate) 19 Nishi-mon Gate (west gate) 20 Minami-mon Gate (south gate) 21 Seinan Sumi-yagura (Southwest Watchtower) 22 Naruko-mon Gate 23 Momoyama-mon Gate 24 Kita Nakashikiri-mon Gate 25 Minami Nakashikiri-mon Gate 26 North Dozo (storehouse) 27 South Dozo (storehouse) 28 Stone ramparts of former Nijo-jo Castle 29 Koun-tei 30 Waraku-an (cafe) 31 Water wheel 32 Plum tree grove 33 Cherry tree grove 34 Green Garden 35 West rest area 36 North rest area 37 Northeast restrooms 38 Subway Nijojo-mae Station 39 Bus stop for Kyoto Station 40 Bus stop for Kinkaku-ji and Kitano Tenmangu 41 Taxi rank 42 © nijocastletoday.com
Dotted line: the usual walking order Camera: photo spot on the official leaflet WC: restrooms
Tap a number for details. Use + to zoom, then drag the map. The map is a drawing, not to scale.
Start at 1, the East Gate. Tap any number on the map, or any place in the list below.
1 Higashi Ote-mon (East Gate) 東大手門 The entrance and exit gate, and the only way in for visitors. The gate you see today dates from about 1662. Important Cultural Property. 2 Tonan Sumi-yagura (Southeast Watchtower) 東南隅櫓 The watchtowers at the four corners of the outer moat were lookouts, normally used as armories. Many were destroyed in the fire of 1788. Only this one and the southwest watchtower survive. 3 Kara-mon Gate 唐門 The gate to Ninomaru Palace. Its cusped gable and cypress-bark roof mark the highest rank of gate. Look for the colored carvings of cranes, pine, bamboo and plum blossoms, and the lions that guard the palace. Restored in 2013. 4 Ninomaru Palace (Ninomaru-goten) 二の丸御殿 Six connected buildings in a diagonal line from southeast to northwest, with 33 rooms and over 800 tatami mats. National Treasure. No photos inside. 5 Ninomaru Garden 二の丸庭園 Redesigned by Kobori Enshu for the Imperial Visit of 1626. A large central island stands for paradise, with a crane island and a turtle island beside it for long life. It was made to be viewed from three directions. 6 Honmaru Palace (Honmaru-goten) 本丸御殿 The former Katsura-no-miya Palace, moved here in 1893 from the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. A rare surviving home of an imperial princely family. Important Cultural Property. Reservation only, with its own ticket. 7 Base of the Keep Tower 天守閣跡 A five-story keep tower, moved here from Fushimi Castle, stood on this corner until lightning burned it down in 1750. It was not rebuilt. The stone base gives a wide view over Honmaru Palace, its garden and the city. 8 Seiryu-en Garden 清流園 Laid out in 1965 with buildings, trees and stones from the Kyoto mansion of the Suminokura merchant family. The Japanese garden has two teahouses, Koun-tei and Waraku-an. The other half is a Western-style lawn. 9 Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery 展示収蔵館 The original wall paintings from Ninomaru Palace, shown up close. The exhibition changes four times a year and the gallery is open 240 days a year. 100 yen, paid at the gallery. 10 Ticket Counter 出札 Outside the moat, just north of the entrance gate. Buy grounds and Ninomaru Palace tickets here. Honmaru Palace tickets are not sold at this window. Coin lockers, a drinks machine and a money exchange machine are next to it. 11 General Information Center 総合案内所 Inside the gate, to the left as you come in, near the southeast turret. Add a Ninomaru Palace ticket here if you bought grounds-only, and ask here about same-day Honmaru Palace tickets. 12 Rest Area 大休憩所 The main rest building: gift shop and refreshments, cloakroom and coin lockers, restrooms, a cash machine, a nursing room and free KYOTO Wi-Fi. You pass it on the way back to the gate. 13 Ban-sho (Guard House) 番所 The guardhouse just inside the East Gate. 14 Kurumayose (Ninomaru Palace entrance) 車寄 The carriage porch where you enter and leave the palace. 15 Daidokoro and Okiyodokoro (kitchens) 台所・御清所 The kitchen buildings behind Ninomaru Palace. 16 Dozo (storehouse) 土蔵 A long storehouse between the kitchens and the Painting Gallery. 17 Honmaru Yagura-mon Gate and East Bridge 本丸櫓門・東橋 The bridge over the inner moat and the gate into Honmaru. 18 Honmaru West Bridge 西橋 The way out of Honmaru on the west side, toward the plum grove and Seiryu-en. 19 Kita Ote-mon Gate (north gate) 北大手門 The castle's north gate. You can't enter from here. 20 Nishi-mon Gate (west gate) 西門 The castle's west gate. Not a visitor entrance. 21 Minami-mon Gate (south gate) 南門 The castle's south gate. Not a visitor entrance. 22 Seinan Sumi-yagura (Southwest Watchtower) 西南隅櫓 The other surviving watchtower on the outer moat. 23 Naruko-mon Gate 鳴子門 A small gate on the path north of Ninomaru Palace. 24 Momoyama-mon Gate 桃山門 A gate on the path between Ninomaru Garden and the cherry grove. 25 Kita Nakashikiri-mon Gate 北中仕切門 The north partition gate, beside the inner moat on the way to Seiryu-en. 26 Minami Nakashikiri-mon Gate 南中仕切門 The south partition gate, beside the inner moat next to the plum grove. 27 North Dozo (storehouse) 北土蔵 A storehouse on the west bank of the inner moat. 28 South Dozo (storehouse) 南土蔵 A storehouse on the west bank of the inner moat, near the plum grove. 29 Stone ramparts of former Nijo-jo Castle 旧二条城石垣 Stonework from an earlier Nijo Castle, on display beside the west path. 30 Koun-tei 香雲亭 One of the two teahouses in the Japanese half of Seiryu-en Garden. 31 Waraku-an (cafe) 和楽庵 The other teahouse in Seiryu-en, marked as a cafe on the official map. Free KYOTO Wi-Fi. 32 Water wheel 水車 A water wheel at the north edge of Seiryu-en Garden. 33 Plum tree grove 梅林 Plum trees along the south side of the inner moat. 34 Cherry tree grove 桜の園 Cherry trees south of the inner moat. 35 Green Garden 緑の園 A lawn area in the northeast corner. 36 West rest area 休憩所 A rest area west of the inner moat, with an accessible restroom, a drinks machine and a smoking area. 37 North rest area 休憩所 A rest area between Seiryu-en and Ninomaru Palace, with restrooms including an accessible one, a drinks machine and a smoking area. 38 Northeast restrooms トイレ Restrooms, including an accessible one, north of the Painting Gallery. 39 Subway Nijojo-mae Station 地下鉄 二条城前駅 Tozai Line. The exits are on the street along the south moat, a few minutes on foot from the entrance gate. 40 Bus stop for Kyoto Station バス停（京都駅方面） On Horikawa-dori, across the street from the entrance gate. 41 Bus stop for Kinkaku-ji and Kitano Tenmangu バス停（金閣寺・北野天満宮方面） On Horikawa-dori, north of the entrance gate. 42 Taxi rank タクシーのりば On Horikawa-dori, just south of the entrance gate.
Ninomaru Palace floor plan
Six buildings joined corner to corner, stepping back from the entrance in the southeast to the shogun's private quarters in the northwest. Room names follow the official English leaflet.
You walk the corridors and look into the rooms. The route is one way: in along the south and west sides to Shiro-shoin, then back along the north and east sides. Green numbers are the stops on the official leaflet.
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Drawn for nijocastletoday.com by Kyoya Fujioka, 2026. Not to be reused without permission. First Room 4th Second Room Third Room Attached Room First Room Fourth Room Second Room Third Room Botan- no-ma First Room Second Room Chodai- no-ma Store room Fourth Room Third Room Roju-no-ma Shikidai-no-ma First Room Second Room Chokushi-no-ma Store room Fuyo- no-ma Chodai-no-ma Waka- matsu- no-ma Third Room Yanagi- no-ma SOTETSU-NO-MA Connecting corridor SHIRO-SHOIN Shogun's private quarters KURO-SHOIN Smaller Grand Hall OHIROMA Grand Hall SHIKIDAI Reception Room TOZAMURAI Waiting rooms KURUMAYOSE Entrance and exit Tozamurai: First, Second and Third Rooms 1 Shikidai (Reception Room) 2 Ohiroma: Third Room 3 Ohiroma: First and Second Rooms 4 Kuro-shoin 5 Shiro-shoin 6 Ohiroma: Fourth Room 7 Shikidai: Roju-no-ma (Senior Councilor's Room) 8 Tozamurai: Chokushi-no-ma (Imperial Messenger's Room) 9 Tozamurai: Yanagi-no-ma (Willow Room) 10 N Entrance Exit © nijocastletoday.com Follow the green line from the entrance. Tap a green number for what to look at.
1 Tozamurai: First, Second and Third Rooms 遠侍 一の間・二の間・三の間 The first and largest section of the palace, where feudal lords waited. The ferocious tigers painted on gold were the first thing a visitor saw, and were meant to show the authority of the shogun. Also called the Tora-no-ma, or Tiger Rooms. 2 Shikidai (Reception Room) 式台 式台の間 Where visitors presented gifts for the shogun and passed on business and messages. Feudal lords met the senior councilors here. The pine trees on the walls stand for everlasting prosperity. 3 Ohiroma: Third Room 大広間 三の間 Look up at the openwork carvings between the rooms. Each is cut from a single piece of cypress over 35 cm thick, with a different design on each side. The gilt copper fittings on the beams are shaped like bouquets of flowers wrapped in paper. 4 Ohiroma: First and Second Rooms 大広間 一の間・二の間 The Grand Hall, where the shogun met feudal lords and court nobles. He sat in the First Room, on the upper level. This is where the return of power to the emperor was announced in 1867. Wall paintings by Kano Tan'yu. 5 Kuro-shoin 黒書院 Also called the Kohiroma, or Smaller Grand Hall. The shogun met high-ranking court nobles and the lords closest to the Tokugawa family here. The first and second rooms are known for their paintings of cherry trees in full bloom. 6 Shiro-shoin 白書院 Believed to be the shogun's private quarters. The ink wash paintings, including a panorama of West Lake in China, give these rooms a calmer feel than the rest of the palace. The route turns back here. 7 Ohiroma: Fourth Room 大広間 四の間 It is said that weapons were displayed here when the shogun was in residence. The hawk perched on a massive pine tree is the most famous wall painting in the palace. 8 Shikidai: Roju-no-ma (Senior Councilor's Room) 式台 老中の間 The waiting room for the senior councilors. Geese in the first two rooms, egrets and willows in winter in the third. The wall above the beams is plain white, unlike the rest of the palace. 9 Tozamurai: Chokushi-no-ma (Imperial Messenger's Room) 遠侍 勅使の間 Where the shogun met messengers from the Imperial Court. The paintings show green maple leaves in early summer. 10 Tozamurai: Yanagi-no-ma (Willow Room) 遠侍 柳の間 Painted with willow trees, like the plant themes in the rooms next to it.
Before you go in
Photos and video are not allowed inside the palace.
The corridor floors sing like a nightingale as you walk. The sound comes from clamps moving against nails under the boards. The official leaflet says the story that it was built to warn of intruders is a mistake.
Entry is 8:45 to 16:10. The palace is closed on Tuesdays in January, July, August and December.
You need the Grounds + Ninomaru Palace ticket (1,300 yen), not the grounds-only ticket.
Honmaru Palace floor plan
This palace was not built for the shogun. It was the Katsura-no-miya Palace, the home of an imperial princely family, moved here in 1893 from the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It reopened in September 2024 after 18 years closed to the public.
On this plan, north is to the left and the entrance is at the bottom, the way you face it when you arrive. Numbers 1 to 25 are the room numbers on the official Honmaru-goten Palace leaflet. Room names follow its English edition.
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Drawn for nijocastletoday.com by Kyoya Fujioka, 2026. Not to be reused without permission. Tenjo-no-ma (Courtiers' Room) 1 Kugyo-no-ma (Court Nobles' Room) 2 Goshoin: San-no-ma (Third Room) 3 Goshoin: Ni-no-ma (Second Room) 4 Goshoin: Ichi-no-ma (First Room) 5 Kosaku-no-ma (Agriculture Room) 6 Shikisoka-no-ma (Plants and Flowers of the Four Seasons Room) 7 Shokaku-no-ma (Pine Tree and Crane Room) 8 Kiji-no-ma (Pheasant Room) 9 Onando (Antechamber) 10 Okesho-no-ma (Dressing Room) 11 Hagi-no-ma (Bush Clover Room) 12 Oyudono (Bathroom) 13 Natsu-no-ma (Summer Room) 14 Haru-no-ma (Spring Room) 15 Fuyu-no-ma (Winter Room) 16 Aki-no-ma (Autumn Room) 17 Unkaku-no-ma: Ichi-no-ma (First Room) 18 Unkaku-no-ma: Ni-no-ma (Second Room) 19 Unkaku-no-ma: San-no-ma (Third Room) 20 Gan-no-ma East (Wild-Goose Room) 21 Gan-no-ma West (Wild-Goose Room) 22 Toritsugi-no-ma (Reception) 23 Genkan-no-ma (Entrance Room) 24 Shisha-no-ma (Messenger Room) 25 GENKAN Entrance Hall GOSHOIN Reception Rooms OTSUNE-GOTEN Residential Palace DAIDOKORO Kitchen, normally not open GAN-NO-MA Wild-Goose Room Entrance Exit courtyard N © nijocastletoday.com
Follow the red line from the entrance. Tap a room number for its name and what it was used for.
1 Tenjo-no-ma (Courtiers' Room) 殿上の間 Waiting rooms. Visitors were shown to one or the other depending on their rank. 2 Kugyo-no-ma (Court Nobles' Room) 公卿の間 Waiting rooms. Visitors were shown to one or the other depending on their rank. 3 Goshoin: San-no-ma (Third Room) 御書院 三の間 The main rooms of the palace. The First Room is one step higher and was for the highest-ranking guests only, with a coffered ceiling and gold on the walls. 4 Goshoin: Ni-no-ma (Second Room) 御書院 二の間 The main rooms of the palace. The First Room is one step higher and was for the highest-ranking guests only, with a coffered ceiling and gold on the walls. 5 Goshoin: Ichi-no-ma (First Room) 御書院 一の間 The main rooms of the palace. The First Room is one step higher and was for the highest-ranking guests only, with a coffered ceiling and gold on the walls. 6 Kosaku-no-ma (Agriculture Room) 耕作の間 Rice farming through the seasons, painted to remind those in authority of their responsibilities. 7 Shikisoka-no-ma (Plants and Flowers of the Four Seasons Room) 四季草花の間 Used as a dining room by the Crown Prince after the palace was moved here. 8 Shokaku-no-ma (Pine Tree and Crane Room) 松鶴の間 The living quarters of the head of the household. Named by Emperor Meiji. Pines, cranes and turtles all stand for long life. 9 Kiji-no-ma (Pheasant Room) 雉子の間 The principal bedroom, named by Emperor Meiji. The metal fittings in the four corners held up mosquito netting. 10 Onando (Antechamber) 御納戸 Believed to be a waiting room for the servants attending the master of the palace. 11 Okesho-no-ma (Dressing Room) 御化粧の間 Thought to be the dressing room of the head of the household and high-ranking ladies. 12 Hagi-no-ma (Bush Clover Room) 萩の間 Thought to have been used by personal attendants. Bush clovers in full bloom cover the doors and walls. 13 Oyudono (Bathroom) 御湯殿 The principal bathroom. A tub stood on the wooden floor, which slopes so the water drains away. 14 Natsu-no-ma (Summer Room) 夏の間 One of the Four Seasons Rooms. A farming village in summer. 15 Haru-no-ma (Spring Room) 春の間 The main room of the Four Seasons Rooms. Hills with pines and mountain cherry trees in full bloom. 16 Fuyu-no-ma (Winter Room) 冬の間 One of the Four Seasons Rooms. A mountain farming village in deep snow. 17 Aki-no-ma (Autumn Room) 秋の間 One of the Four Seasons Rooms. Autumn leaves and a pair of deer. 18 Unkaku-no-ma: Ichi-no-ma (First Room) 雲鶴の間 一の間 Thought to have been reception rooms. Emperor Meiji named them after the clouds and cranes on the paper of the sliding doors. 19 Unkaku-no-ma: Ni-no-ma (Second Room) 雲鶴の間 二の間 Thought to have been reception rooms. Emperor Meiji named them after the clouds and cranes on the paper of the sliding doors. 20 Unkaku-no-ma: San-no-ma (Third Room) 雲鶴の間 三の間 Thought to have been reception rooms. Emperor Meiji named them after the clouds and cranes on the paper of the sliding doors. 21 Gan-no-ma East (Wild-Goose Room) 雁の間 東 Used by the servants. The ink painting of wild geese and reeds is by Nakajima Raisho. 22 Gan-no-ma West (Wild-Goose Room) 雁の間 西 Used by the servants. The ink painting of wild geese and reeds is by Nakajima Raisho. 23 Toritsugi-no-ma (Reception) 取次の間 Part of the 60-square-meter entrance space. The large partition screen is painted with waves and an eagle. 24 Genkan-no-ma (Entrance Room) 玄関の間 Part of the 60-square-meter entrance space. The large partition screen is painted with waves and an eagle. 25 Shisha-no-ma (Messenger Room) 使者の間 Part of the 60-square-meter entrance space. The large partition screen is painted with waves and an eagle.
Reservation only. Honmaru Palace needs its own timed ticket (1,000 yen) on top of your castle ticket. About 15 people go in at a time. Be through the East Gate at least 20 minutes before your slot.
Shoes come off at the entrance, and you need to be wearing socks.
Bags go in a locker inside. Anything larger than 35 x 35 x 50 cm has to be left at the cloakroom in the Rest Area first.
Photos and video are not allowed inside.
Entry is 9:30 to 16:00. Closed on the third Monday of each month and the day after.
Place names, numbers, room layouts and routes follow the official Nijo-jo Castle leaflet (Japanese and English editions, files dated April 24, 2026), the official English guide map (April 2026) and the official Honmaru-goten Palace leaflet (Japanese and English editions, published August 2024), all published by the Kyoto City Nijo-jo Castle Office. The maps were drawn for this site and are © nijocastletoday.com. Last checked: October 10, 2026 . Positions are approximate and the drawings are not to scale. The dotted walking order on the grounds map is our own summary. Published by Bag2Gate.
